Charities and Patronages

The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family lend their names and much of their time to many different charities and organisations. Currently, over 1,000 organisations have a member of the Royal Family as their patron or president. These range from well-known charities such as the British Red Cross to new, smaller or local charities, to regiments in the Armed Forces.

The King and Queen at a Prince's Trust event

Please note: Following The King’s Accession in September 2022, a major review of Royal Patronages and charity Presidencies has been undertaken. The King and Queen will continue to serve as Patron to many of the charities and institutions with which His Majesty was affiliated as Prince of Wales, and respectively Her Majesty as Duchess of Cornwall. In addition, Their Majesties are pleased to continue the patronage of a great variety of charities and organisations previously supported by Queen Elizabeth II. Find out more

Having a Royal Patron or President provides vital publicity for the work of these organisations, and allows their enormous achievements and contributions to society to be recognised and promoted.

The King at a Prince's Trust International event

Between them, members of the Royal Family have approximately 600 patronages relating to the Armed Services. These vary from honorary roles with specific regiments in the UK and Commonwealth, to involvement with charities providing support to veterans.

The Queen hosts a Colonel's Fund reception

History

The first recorded patronage was George II’s involvement with the Society of Antiquaries, an organisation concerned with architectural and art history, conservation and heraldry. The society still exists today and retains its Royal patronage through The Duke of Gloucester’s involvement.

The Queen meets RNLI volunteers

Other organisations have enjoyed a long history of Royal association, with Patronages being handed down through generations of the Royal Family. For example, King George IV became Patron of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1824, and subsequent Monarchs have all taken on the role. 

In 2014 The Prince of Wales (then The Duke of Cambridge) became the third generation of the Royal Family to take on the Presidency of the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), following in the footsteps of The King and The late Duke of Edinburgh before him. 

The King and The Prince of Wales at a Sub-Aqua Club engagement

How are patronages chosen?

Patronages often reflect the interests of the member of the Royal Family involved, for example, The Queen – when Duchess of Cornwall – took on the Presidency of the Royal Osteoporosis Society as both her mother and grandmother died as a result of the brittle bone disease.  

The Queen at the Royal Osteoporosis Society

Princess Alexandra, who undertook a nursing course at Great Ormond Street Hospital after leaving school, is Patron of both the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service and Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service.

The King is Patron of a number of environmental charities and initiatives

Many of The King’s patronages – taken on when he was Prince of Wales - stem from his passions for the environment and the arts, and the current Prince of Wales’s involvement with the Centrepoint charity reflects his long-standing interest in homelessness and the people affected by it. 

The titles of various members of the Royal Family also dictate certain themes in their patronages. The Duchess of Edinburgh – previously The Countess of Wessex - is Patron of the regional charity, Wessex Heartbeat. The Duke of Kent is similarly involved with various Kent-based organisations, including the Kent County Agricultural Society

 

Do you want to nominate a charity or organisation?

Members of the Royal Family receives hundreds of requests each year from organisations asking for their support. Applications are submitted to the appropriate Private Secretary who will pass on requests for consideration by members of the Royal Family.

Some patronages are taken on in perpetuity, while others may have a fixed term. Sometimes members of the Royal Family take on a patronage relating to a specific campaign or event which only lasts a finite length of time. 

Related content

News

Royal Maundy 2025

17 April 2025
The King and Queen at the Maundy Service in Durham

A message from The King to mark Easter

There are three virtues that the world still needs — faith, hope and love. “And the greatest of these is love”.

17 April 2025

The King’s speech at the State Banquet at the Quirinale Palace, Italy

It is also moving to think that my great, great grandfather, King Edward VII, and my great-grandfather, King George V, both spoke at State Banquets in this very Palace over a...

09 April 2025

The King delivers an address to the Italian Parliament

It has been one of the pleasures of my life to come to know this irresistible country, and from Turin to Palermo, Verona to Naples, Florence to Trieste, I have learned a...

09 April 2025

The King's message to the regional media industry in the UK

Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share.

27 March 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a Reception to mark the launch of The Queen’s Reading Room Medal

Making life better is the ultimate aim of my Reading Room. We believe that books make for a happier, healthier and more connected society.

26 March 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a Reception to celebrate the 15th anniversary of WOW (Women of the World)

Without fail, wherever WOW gathers, I have met the most extraordinary and impressive women who have, quite simply, refused to take ‘no’ for an answer.

11 March 2025
News

Commonwealth Day 2025

10 March 2025
Commonwealth flags

A speech delivered by The King during a visit to HMS Prince of Wales whilst at sea

I can only say that I take immense pride in you - the men and women who bring this vessel to life with such indomitable spirit - for your vital service on behalf of us all.

04 March 2025

The King's Commonwealth Day Message 2025

The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.

09 March 2025
News

The King visits Staffordshire

24 February 2025
The King visits Tower Brewery
News

The Queen visits Exeter

06 February 2025
The Queen visits Exeter
Press release 07 February 2025

The King and Queen will visit the Holy See and Italy

Read more

A speech by His Majesty The King to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

As the number of Holocaust Survivors regrettably diminishes with the passage of time, the responsibility of remembrance rests far heavier on our shoulders, and on those of...

27 January 2025

A speech by Her Majesty The Queen at a reception, hosted by the Anne Frank Trust, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Let’s unite in our commitment to take action, to speak up and to ensure that the words “Never Forget” are a guiding light that charts a path towards a better, brighter, and...

24 January 2025
News

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025

27 January 2025
The King with Jewish leaders

A message from The King to the people of Glasgow celebrating the city’s 850th anniversary.

It goes without saying that people really do make Glasgow. As one of the most diverse cities in Scotland and beyond, it is entirely fitting that the celebrations to mark this...

13 January 2025

A message of condolence from The King following the South Korean plane crash

My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the horrific air accident at Muan, which resulted in such grievous loss of life. As the people of the Republic of Korea...

29 December 2024